Starting today New York doctors must consult database before prescribing painkillers

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Starting today doctors in New York must check a new electronic prescription drug database before writing prescriptions for painkillers and other controlled substances.

The change is required by the state's new I-STOP law enacted a year ago to address the epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction sweeping New York and the rest of the nation.

I-STOP set up a real-time database to track every prescription for opiod pills that gets filled in the state. Opiods like hydrocodone are synthetic versions of opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin, derived from the opium poppy. Pharmacists are required to report in real time each prescription they fill for controlled substances and consult the database before filling prescriptions.

Doctors must consult the database before writing prescriptions for controlled substances. New York is the only state with such a verification requirement.

The intent of the database is to prevent "doctor shoppers" from obtaining prescriptions from multiple physicians.

The law also mandates that all drugs be prescribed electronically beginning in December, 2014. That change is designed to eliminate the problem of forged, traded or stolen prescriptions.

You can contact health writer James T. Mulder at jmulder@syracuse.com or (315) 470-2245